Wagon running-gear.



F. K. RICKS.

WAGON RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEN-7,1915.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

- 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses XJ MM.

Attorneys APH CO- WASHINGTON D c F. K. RICKS.

WAGON RUNNING GEAR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 7, 1915.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys r of the front skeins or spindles.

FLOYD K R-ICKS," CANTON, ILLINOIS.

WAGON RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters'latent.

' Application filed September 7,1915. SeriaLNo. 49,322.

To alt-whom it may concern: Be it known that 'LZFLOYD K. RIcKs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county ofFulton and State 7 of Illinois, have-invented a new and useful l/VagonRunn1ng-Gear,of which the followlng is a specification.

The present lnvention appertains to vehicle running gears, and isparticularly an ,improvement over my'Patent No. 610,921,

issued September 20, 1898.

rear axles whereby-.they are swung in opposite chrections' when 13116front axle is turned, so that the wagon or vehicle canturn,ashortcorner, the present device lbodying improved details ofconstructmn to enhance the utility and efiiciency of the structure. I

The present device is also simple, light and inexpensive inconstruction.

scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the inventlon herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accoin panying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a plan View of the improved running gear with the wheelsremoved. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional detail of one of the rear skeins or spindles, thissection being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an enlargedperspective view of one pair of tie rods and their sleeve. Fig. 5 is anen larged sectional detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention, there are provided front and rear pairsof skeins or spindles 1 and 2, respectively, which are hollow orsocketed which are tapered exteriorly and interiorly. These skeins orspindles are constructed of suitable metal and are slipped or fittedupon the tapered ends 3 of the front and rear axles t and 5,respectively, said .axles being constructed of wood or other suitablematerial. The skeins provide convenient mean for applying'the wheels(notshown) to the ends ofthe axles, the wheels being journaled upon theskeins 1n the usual manner. The free ends of the skeins have reducedthreaded portions 6 for the reception of nuts forholding the hubs of thewheels upon the skeins, and the skeins are. provided between their endsand near their inner ends with collars 7, against which the inner endsof thehubsareadapted to'rest.

The front skeins 1 are provided at their nner, ends with forwardlyprojecting ears 8 which are apertured forthe reception of the hooks 9 ofV-shaped rods 10 which are terminally attached to opposite sides of thewagon tongue 11, the hooks 9 being pro vided at the crotch portions oftherodslO. The tongue 11 is thus attached to the front skeins 1, andthis provides effective means for fastening the tongue to the frontaxle. The skeins 1 and 2 are provided at their inner ends with verticalhinge butts or ex tensions 12 having vertical bores 13 extendingtherethrough. The butts 12 of the skeins 1 project rearwardly, while thebutts of the rear skeins project forwardly. Pins 14 project through thebores 13 and have their ends projecting.

Crossed reach bars 15 and 16 are connected to the pins. 14, said reachbars being disposed diagonally or obliquely of the runni ng gear, asclearly seen by reference to Fig. 1.

Slidable upon each of the reach bars is a pair of sleeves 17 ofrectangular cross esction, similar to the cross section of the reachbars, and the sleeves of the reach bars are mounted adjustably thereonnear the terminals thereof. The sleeves 17 are held in adjustedpositions by means of vertical pins 18 engaged downwardly throughsuitable apertures provided in the sleeves 17 and through apertures 19with which the bars 15 and 16 are provided. The apertures 19 arearranged in series, whereby the sleeves 17 may be adjusted forshortening or lengthening the distance between the axles, which ever ispreferred. The sleeves 17 have up-' Pateirted' fiec. 21, 1915.

, axles are swung.

spective skein. The rods 22 are disposed abo e and below therespectivebars parallel therewith, and serve to connect the reach barswith the skeins, whereby the reach bars can swing relative to the axles,when the The remote terminals of the upper rods 22 of the lower reachbar 16 are oEset upwardly, as at 2l, to space the bar 16 below the bar15, and the remote terminals of the lower rods 22 of the reach bar 15are ofliset downwardly to raise the bar 15 above the bar 16. The rods 22of the reach bar 15 are just the reverse'of the rods in weight, and iscomparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the present running gear, the same engaging said sleeves and aswith other running gears of this character, when the vfront axle isswung in one direction, the rear axle is swung in the otherdirection,whereby a short turn may be made. Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is: V

v1. A running gear embodying axles, crossed reach bars, adjustablesleeves upon the reach bars, and pairs of rods threadedly pivotallyconnected to said axles. I g

2. A running gear embodying axles, pins attached thereto, crossed reachbars, adjustable sleeves upon the reach bars andhaving upper and lowerlugs, and pairsofupper and FLOYD K. HICKS.-

WVitnesses: r

BERTHA E. OWENS,- 6. E. WEED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, .D. G.

